Luggage



y 1960 s. KOFFLER 2,937,728

LUGGAGE Filed May 20, 1958 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORI I SOL KOFFLERAUXS May 24, 1960 s. KOFFLER 2,937,728

LUGGAGE Filed May 20, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

SOL KOFFLER BY MW, Q% M ATT'YS United States Patent LUGGAGE Sol Kofller,600 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, RI.

Filed May 20, 1958, Ser. No. 736,587

Claims. (Cl. 190-51) This invention, in general, relates to luggage, andmore particularly the invention relates to luggage having a compartmentpartition or divider removably secured therein, said partition ordivider having shoe receptacles thereon.

The luggage of this invention is constructed in a manner so that shoesmay be carried in the luggage without soiling other articles carriedtherein. Also, the receptacles for the shoes are mounted upon apartition in the luggage, which partition is, in turn, hingedly securedto the luggage and preferably is also removably secured therein so thatthe partition with the shoe receptacles may be entirely removed from theluggage. By providing an eyelet, loop or the like on the partition, thepartition, when removed from the luggage, may be hung on a hook in acloset to provide a convenient means for storing shoes.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide luggage havingshoe receptacles as an integral part thereof, which shoe receptacles aremounted upon a portion of the luggage which is removable from the mainluggage shell.

Another object is to provide luggage having shoe receptacles on one sideof a removable partition or divider member whereby the shoes carried inthe luggage are separated from other articles carried therein and thepartition may be taken out of the luggage shell to provide a storagereceptacle for shoes separate from the luggage.

A still further object of the invention is to provide hand luggage soconstructed as to completely separate shoes carried therein from otherarticles carried in the luggage.

Another object is to provide a novel structure for carrying shoes inluggage, for removing shoes from luggage and for carrying them orstoring them in a component part of the luggage apart from the luggagebut ready for re-insertion into the luggage when desired.

These and other objects, which will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, are achieved by the construction of luggage in accordancewith the instant invention described hereinafter in conjunction with thedrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration, the luggage isillustrated as being a large ladies hat box. It will be understood,however, that the invention is also applicable to other shapes, types,and sizes of luggage.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawingswherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an article of luggage constituting oneembodiment of the invention with the top or cover open and the divideror partition fastened at both ends within the confines of the top orcover;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the article of luggage of Fig. 1 withthe divider or partition released from the cover at the top but stillfastened near the bottom;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the side of the divider or partition ofFig. 1 having shoe receptacles thereon as it appears when completelydetached from the luggage;

Fig. 4 is a perspective, partial view of the portions of the luggageshell and cover of Fig. 1 showing the hinged connection therebetween andmeans for attaching the partition or divider to the luggage;

2,937,728 Patented May 24, 1960 Fig. 5 is a perspective view, similar toFig. 1, of a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 2, of the article ofluggage of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the side of the removable divider orpartition of Fig. 5 having shoe receptacles thereon as it appears whencompletely detached from the luggage;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, partial, exploded, perspective view of the covershell and the divider or partition of Figs. 5-7 illustrating the detailsof the removable, hinged connection between the cover shell andpartition as well as the locking arrangement for keeping the partitionin the cover shell when the luggage is opened.

The articles of luggage illustrated in the drawings are of generallycylindrical shape and may be used for carrying ladies hats and the like.Other shapes may be employed where the luggage is designed for adifferent function without departing from the spirit of the inventionherein disclosed. The article of luggage illustrated in Figs. 14comprises a shell designated generally at 10, having a cylindrical sidewall 12 and a bottom wall 14. A peripheral metal band or frame 16 havinga groove therein is secured around the upper edge of the cylindricalside wall 12. The groove is provided to seat the opposing edge of thecover therein when the luggage is closed. A band of raised, decorativestitching 18 is provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical sidewall 12.

The interior of the main shell 10, as well as the interior of the cover22, preferably has a cloth lining 20. The cover shell 22 is composed ofa cylindrical side wall 24 and a top wall (not shown). The cover shelland the main shell are connected by a hinge 26 secured to flat portions28, 30 of the side walls of the main shell 10 and cover shell 22,respectively. The male portions 32, 32 of a lower pair of snap fastenersare secured to the cover shell 22. These male portions are adapted to bein snapping engagement with the female portions 34, 24 mounted in tabs36, 36 of a divider or partition mem- The divider or partition member 38is a disc-like member having a fiat or straight lower edge and generallycorresponding in size and shape to the interior of the cover shell 22.It can be made of a rigid material but is preferably constructed of asemirigid material so that it has sufficient flexibility to permit thedivider or partition to be bent slightly in the event that the spacenormally existing between the divider or partition and the interior ofthe cover shell 22 is not suflicient to accommodate the shoes placed inthe shoe receptacle 40.

The shoe receptacles 40 are formed by a continuous band of fabric whichis stitched, riveted or the like at regular intervals at point 42 to thedivider or partition member 38 to provide pockets 44 which may be openat both ends or may be open at one end and closed at the other end. Theshape and arrangement of the shoe pockets may take other forms withoutdeparting from the invention. In the embodiment illustrated, the pockets44 are opened at both ends. The shoes are retained in the receptacles bythe provision of elastic bands 46 which are stitched into the long,narrow cloth band along both edges thereof.

In Fig. 3 is shown the rear, rivet side of male snap fasteners 48mounted near the edge in the upper portion of the divider 38. Thesefasteners are adapted to be engaged by female portions of snap fasteners50 secured in tabs 52, which, in turn, are secured in the cover shell22. By snapping together the upper pair of snap fasten ers 4'8, 48 and50, 50 the divider or partition is held firmly in the confines of thecover shell 22.

The divider or partition can be removed from the article of luggage by.unsnapping the snaps of both the upper pair of snap fasteners and thelower pair of snap fasteners. The divider, thus separated, can then beused as a separate shoe storage device to be placed in a closet or thelike. For this purpose, means are provided on the divider shell forhanging the same on a hook or the like. Such means may be an eyeletgrommet 54,,or, if desired, other means such as a cloth loop stitched orotherwise attached to the divider may be employed.

In order to provide a more pleasing appearance to the divider, stripesof decorative stitching 56 are provided upon the side opposite from theside carrying the shoe receptacles. A small auxiliary bag for carryingmiscellaneous small articles may be included in the article of luggage.Such a small bag is shown at 58 and is secured to the article of luggageby a tab 6%) secured to the cover shell 22. The bag 58 has a marginalelastic band 62 to prevent the loss of articles carried therein.

In the loading position shown in Fig. 2, the upper snap fasteners aredisengaged from one another whereby the tabs 36, 36 serve as hinges sothat the bottom flat side of the divider or partition can pivot on theflat area 30 and make a substantially line-to-line contact therewith.

The completed article of luggage has a carrying handle 64 diametricallyopposed from the flat portion of the shells. Suitable feet or supports(not shown) are provided on the outside of the bottom of the flat area28. Interfitting locking members 66, 68 releasably keep the cover shellin closing engagement with the main shell 10.

The article of luggage illustrated in Figs. to 8 is of the same generalconstruction as the article of luggage illustrated in Figs. 14,previously described. Accordingly, where applicable, like numerals havebeen used to designate like parts, and reference is made to the previousdescription for detailed explanation thereof. The article of luggage ofFigs. 58 differs from the article of luggage of Figs. 1-4 in the meansfor removably securing the partition or divider in the luggage, themeans for locking the partition or divider within the confines of thecover shell, and in the provision of a general utility pocket on theside of the partition or divider opposite from the side on which theshoe receptacles are mounted. Accordingly, these features are describedin detail hereinafter.

On the side of the partition 70 opposite from the side upon which theshoe receptacles 40 are provided, there is a general utility pocket 78consisting of a strip of puckered cloth having a lower elastic band 80which is stitched along the length thereof to the partition 76. Theupper edge of the pocket 78 is also provided with an elastic band whichis stitched to the partition only at the ends thereofthereby forming apocket which is normally closed.

Turning to Fig. 8, the tab 72 is secured to the partition by means of asegment 84 fastened to the partition and comprising an integral part ofthe tab 72. The line of division between the part 72 and 84 is flexibleso that the tab 72 serves as a hinge for the pivotal movement of thepartition 70. The tab 72 is removably secured in the cover shell 22 bymeans of a turn fastener designated generally at 86. The turn fastener36 comprises a rectangular body portion fastened to the inner side ofthe cover shell side wall at the center of the flat portion of the covershell. The remainder of the turn fastener 86 comprises a rotatablelocking bar 90, which is pivotably mounted in the body portion 88 by ashaft 92. The partition 70 is secured in the cover shell 22 by turningthe pivotable bar to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 8, placingthe opening of the grommet 74 about the turn fastener 86, and rotatingthe pivotable bar 90 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8.This locks the partition 70 within the cover shell in removablerelationship therewith, and the partition '70 may be pivoted betweenvarious positions as shown in Fig. 6 by the hinge-like construction ofthe tab 72 and its integral part 84.

In order to secure the partition 70 within the confines of the covershell and prevent it from falling out of said cover shell, there is anL-shaped bracket 94 mounted on the interior side of the side wall 24 ofthe cover shell 22 at a point diametrically opposite of the turnfastener 86. The L-shaped bracket 94 has a turn fastener 96 mountedthereon-the turn fastener 96 being similar to the turn fastener 86previously described. The locking of the partition 70 within the covershell 22 is accomplished by placing the opening of the grommet 76 aboutthe turn fastener 96, and rotating the locking bar to its lockingposition.

It will be seen that the invention provides an article of luggage havinga partition therein of substantial rigidity but preferably with someflexibility, provided with shoe pockets, and having quickly detachingconnections some of which may be detached to permit pivoting of thepartition or all of which may be detached to permit complete removal ofthe partition from the luggage. Also, the invention provides a novelarrangement of articles of luggage having shoe pockets positioned on apivotable partition member in a manner so as to avoid soilage of thearticles of clothing placed in the luggage by the shoes.

It will be recognized that the embodiments of the invention illustratedin the drawing and previously described constitute but two of a largenumber of types of articles of luggage within the true spirit of theinvention herein disclosed.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An article of luggage having a partition member therein provided withshoe receptacles, said partition member being detachably fastened byfastening means within said luggage in spaced relationship with thesides thereof sufficient to accommodate shoes carried in said shoereceptacles, said partition member comprising a lower straight sidehaving at least one tab secured thereto and said tab having a quicklydetaching connection adapted to be attached to and detached from acomplementary connection secured to the interior of said luggage wherebysaid tab acts as a hinge and said partition member can pivot on saidstraight side and means on said partition adjacent the upper sidethereof for hanging up said partition when it is detached from saidarticle of luggage.

2. An article of luggage comprising a main shell, a cover shell hingedlysecured to said main shell, a partition member mounted within saidshells and connected by a flexible hinge piece which is removablyconnected with one of said shells by at least one quickly detachingconnection on said hinge piece, a plurality of shoe receptacles on oneside of said partition, and means for hanging up said partition when itis separated from said shells.

3. An article of luggage comprising a main shell, a cover shell hingedlysecured to said main shell, a partition member hingedly mounted withinsaid shells substantially at the juncture between them and connectedwith one of said shells by quickly detaching connections, a plurality ofshoe receptacles on the cover shell side of said partition, and meansassociated with said partition for hanging up said partition when it isseparated from said shells, said quickly detaching connectionscomprising tabs depending from one side of said partition, and snapfastener portions in said tabs for snapping engagement with snapfastener portions mounted in said cover shell.

4. An article of luggage comprising a main shell, a cover shell hingedlysecured to said main shell, a partition member hingedly mounted withinsaid shells substantially at the juncture between them and connectedwith one of said shells by a quickly detaching connection, a pluralityof shoe receptacles on the cover shell side of said partition, and meansassociated with said partition for hanging up said partition when it isseparated from said shells, said quickly detaching connection comprisinga tab depending from one side of the partition, and a grommet in saidpartition having a slot adapted to be placed about the body'of a turnfastener mounted in said cover shell to provide a locking relationshiptherebetween when said turn fastener is in looking position.

5. A partition member adapted to be mounted within an article ofluggage, said partition member comprising a plurality of shoereceptacles thereon, said partition member having a lower straight sidehaving at least one flexible tab secured thereto, said tab having aquickly detaching connection adapted to be connected with anddisconnected from a complementary connection secured to the interior ofthe luggage whereby said tab is adapted V to act as a hinge and saidpartition member can pivot on its lower straight side, and means on saidpartition adjacent the upper edge thereof for hanging up said partitionwhen it is separated from the luggage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS193,523 Krick July 24, 1877 1,197,699 White Sept. 12, 1916 1,262,911Bartlett Apr. 16, 1918 1,524,757 Sonin Feb. 3, 1925 1,908,178 PlotkinMay 9, 1933 2,126,206 Plotkin Aug. 9, 1938 2,131,583 Crotty et al. Sept.27, 1938

